Kansas City public radio journalists plan to unionize, citing ‘volatile’ media market
Citing the pressures of a “volatile” media market and a desire for greater job security, employees of Kansas City public news radio station KCUR on Tuesday afternoon announced their intent to unionize.
They filed a petition to create a union with the Communications Workers of America, according to a press release from the news station’s employees. Union organizers touted a 70% approval rate by employees that include reporters, producers, newscasters and on-air hosts.
Included in the union effort are employees of KCUR, the National Public Radio affiliate carried on 89.3 FM, and station partners Classical KC, Harvest Public Media, Kansas News Service and the Midwest Newsroom.
An open letter sent with the announcement highlights a desire for more stable working conditions, competitive pay and increased job protections. It points to a collective voice under union stewardship as a path toward those goals, as well as a need for “systemic protections and changes” to maintain “the quality of work we produce.”
“Over the decades that KCUR has operated, our work has made this organization a beacon of truth and integrity. As our organization continues to grow and develop to better serve the community, we seek a more active role in the shared future of this organization,” employees say in the letter, which lists the names of 26 approving members.
In an email obtained by The Star, General Manager Sarah Morris told KCUR employees Tuesday that the organization received an official notification from the state in regard to the unionization effort. That came, she said, shortly after a “collegial, open conversation” with members of the news content team.
She said patience would be appreciated, and information would be shared internally, as the process moves forward.
“As this process unfolds, I want to assure you all that we will remain focused on serving our community with the essential journalism that our community has come to rely on,” she wrote in the email. “And we will continue to build a culture of belonging where every person on our staff can have a positive impact.”
KCUR would be the second public radio station to unionize under the University of Missouri System, according to union organizers.
In an emailed statement to The Star on Tuesday, Christian Basi, a spokesperson for the University of Missouri System, said the university was aware of the unionization effort at KCUR.
“As we do with all union requests, we will expect them to follow the procedures outlined by Missouri state law. We have appreciated their transparent approach, and we know that while they pursue this, KCUR will remain focused on its mission to serve the community and region with trusted journalism and entertainment,” Basi said.
This story was originally published March 26, 2024 at 5:47 PM.
